Cradle for a handset

ABSTRACT

A cradle  13  for a handset for a telephone or other electronic apparatus is dimensioned to fit within a chair arm, for example an aircraft seat arm. The cradle includes an integral cord spool  16  having a rewind bias spring  34 , and a catch (not shown) for maintaining the handset in the cradle. The cord is locked in an extended condition by a braking cam  53 , releasable for rewinding the cord by a pushbutton  36 . Latching means  54  are provided for maintaining the pushbutton depressed until the cord is rewound. Other brake and latching means, including a ratchet and pawl arrangement, are disclosed.

In a first aspect, this invention relates to a cradle for a handset,such as a telephone handset or remote control for electronic apparatus,and is particularly applicable to cradles for mounting in the armrestsof chairs.

In the following “chair” includes all seating apparatus incorporating anarm (whether extending from a back of the chair, the seat of the chair,or both) and, for example, includes but is not limited to: seats in allmodes of mass transport including aircraft, buses, rail and passengervessels; seats in facilities for audience participation, such astheatres, arenas, lecture theatres and libraries; and seats for personalbusiness or domestic use such as workstation chairs, and settees.

It is known to provide a cradle in the armrest of a chair, such as aseat in an aircraft, for housing a handset comprising, for example, atelephone and/or a remote controller for in-flight entertainmentapparatus. Such handsets can also include call functions for thein-flight staff. A typical example is the model RU-AA6501-01 ofMatsushita Electrical Industrial Company Limited of Osaka, Japan.

Conventionally such handsets sit and are cradled in a recess in an armmounted cradle and are removable from the recess by lifting. The handsetis electrically powered and connected via a cable which is housed in andmay be drawn from a cable reel. The cable reel is conventionally of theratchet type so that when the handset is lifted from the cradle thecable may be extended to a desired extent and locks in that position. Toreturn the cable to the reel the cable is tugged to release the ratchetand then released so allowing a spring mechanism in the reel to draw thecable back into the reel. FIG. 1 illustrates schematically theconventional arrangement of handset, cradle and reel. FIG. 2 shows atypical arrangement with the cable reel mounted to the rear of a chairarm and FIG. 3 shows a further typical arrangement with the cable reelmounted under the seat. The cable passes through a reinforced butflexible conduit extending from the cradle to the reel.

This conventional arrangement causes some problems.

1. In both locations of the cable reel, separate mounting of the cradleand the reel, and the need to ensure free passage for the cable betweenthe cradle and the reel, leads to time consuming installation andservicing particularly as the cable can quickly become damaged ifinstallation or servicing is defective.

2. Because the cable reel is remote from the cradle, cable reels havebeen of the above mentioned ratchet type. Many people do not understandhow the ratchet mechanism works and as a consequence the handset isfrequently not properly stowed leading to damage to the cable. Suchincorrect stowing can contravene air safety regulations.

3. In the under seat location of FIG. 3 there is the additionalinstallation problem of needing to carefully route the cable in itsconduit to prevent damage by the seat mechanism. The long and sometimesconvoluted pathways involved can lead to high friction between the cableand its housing conduit which slows down the cable reel and again canlead to high service costs.

4. The arm mounted location of FIG. 2, while desirable, is difficult toengineer. Generally the seat arm is too narrow and also contains otheritems of “furniture” such as ash trays, audio jacks, seat adjustmentcontrols. Further, this location generally contains arm hingingmechanisms to allow the seat arm to swing up into the seat back.

Telephones with attached cord winding devices have been previouslyproposed (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,242 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,593).However these telephones were not amenable to fitting in the arms ofchairs; do not restrain the handset in the cradle; and leave wirelooping in free space where it can be inadvertently caught.

It has also been proposed to provide a remote control holder for wiredremote controls for domestic television apparatus and the like (see U.S.Pat. No. 4,735,377). The holder proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,377 hada shelf on which the remote controller rested and a cable reel toretract the cable when the remote was not in use. The holder of U.S.Pat. No. 4,735,377 was not amenable to fitting in the arms of chairs anddid not restrain the handset in the cradle and no suggestion to doeither is made in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,377. The purpose behind U.S. Pat.No. 4,735,377 was to prevent wires looping around in the domesticenvironment.

shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,597 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,766it is known to provide a combined cord reel and telephone handset cradleassembly for mounting in an aircraft passenger seat back or bulkhead.However such known assemblies are too bulky for incorporation in astandard passenger seat arm.

The applicants have realised that in the chair arm context incorporatingthe cable reel into the cradle leads to many advantages:

1. There is no need for a protective conduit around the cable and sofrictional forces do not limit the take-up of cable.

2. Installation of the cradle is simplified since only electrical(and/or optical) connections need to be made and there is no need tocarefully position a mechanical pathway for the cable.

3. Since the cable reel is now adjacent the cradle it becomes feasible,if desired, to use an alternative ratchet mechanism such as apressbutton release ratchet (see for example GB-A-2210020) which issimpler for the user to understand.

4. The combined unit is far more robust than separate cradle and reeland is less prone to damage by either the user or service personnel.

The applicants have further realised that for robust use it isadvantageous to provide a manually releasable catch to secure thehandset into its cradle. (In the aircraft environment there is arequirement that the cradle withstand a 16 g crash landing withoutreleasing the handset).

Accordingly the present invention provides a cradle for housing ahandset capable of connection to apparatus, the cradle including a bodycomprising:

a) recess adapted to releasably receive the handset in a cradled restposition;

b) a cable reel housed in the body and carrying a retractably extendiblecable , the cable being connectable by a first end to the handset, suchthat in use removal of the handset from its cradled rest positionextends the cable from the cable reel, the cable reel being biased forretraction of the cable and comprising a releasable lock to secure thecable at a required length and

c) a catch to releasably secure the handset in its cradled restposition,

characterised in that the body is adapted to be secured at leastpartially recessed within a chair arm with the width of the bodycontainable in a surface of the arm no greater than 7.5 cm wide.

It should be noted that the term “cable” in this specification includesthe use of optical fibres either additionally or in place of electricalconductors and, for infrared or other wireless transmission systems,include the use of a tether provided to prevent removal of the handset.

In a further aspect, the invention concerns a winding mechanism and aspool braking and release arrangement therefor, such as may beincorporated in a handset cradle having pushbutton operated cableretraction, as discussed above.

GB 2210020 shows a telephone cord windup apparatus for domestic useincluding a push-button operated cord retraction mechanism. Pressuremust be maintained on a push-button in order to release a ratchet brake,permitting retraction of the cord under spring action.

EP 0319497 shows a push-button or pedal operated cable reel for a vacuumcleaner. Depressing the pedal releases a friction brake permitting thecable to rewind. The pedal remains latched in the depressed state untilthe torque provided by a rewind spring exceeds a predetermined value.Such a rewind mechanism is not suitable for telephone handsets in whichthe cord is restrained by the user during rewinding and therefore likelyto be under relatively high tension.

The present invention further provides a winding mechanism comprising aspool rotatable in one direction against a rewind bias torque;

brake means having:

(i) an operative condition in which rotation of the spool in the rewinddirection is braked but rotation of the spool in said one direction isallowed, and

(ii) a released condition in which rotation of the spool in the rewinddirection is allowed; release means actuable to change the brake meansfrom the operative to the released condition, and latch means engageablewith the release means for holding the release means in the actuatedstate whereby the brake means are maintained in the released condition;

characterised in that the mechanism forms part of an apparatuscomprising a handset and a cradle having a recess in which the handsetmay be placed, the latch means comprising a trigger arranged in therecess and actuated by placement of the handset into the recess todisengage the latch means from the release means thereby allowing thebrake means to change from the released to the operative condition.

In an alternative construction, the invention provides a windingmechanism comprising a spool rotatable in one direction against a rewindbias torque; brake means having:

(i) an operative condition in which rotation of the spool in the rewinddirection is braked but rotation of the spool in said one direction isallowed, and

(ii) a released condition in which rotation of the spool in the rewinddirection is allowed;

release means actuable to change the brake means from the operative tothe released condition, and latch means engageable with the releasemeans for holding the release means in the actuated state whereby thebrake means are held in the released condition, characterised in thatrotation of the spool in the one direction biases the latch means out ofengagement with the release means.

Difficulties have sometimes arisen in exploiting the increasedreliability and ease of servicing a handset cradle with integrated cablereel as, to produce a shallow unit for installation in limited spaces,the cord reel has been located laterally of the handset receiving recess(see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5155766). This requires a larger installationaperture than a cradle with remotely located cord reel, inhibiting useof a cradle and integrated cord reel in the replacement market, asundesirable reworking of the original installation apertures isrequired.

In another aspect, the invention provides a cradle for housing ahandset, the cradle comprising:

a one piece body having a shoulder for locating the cradle forinstallation at least partially recessed in an aperture in a mountingpanel;

a rearwardly extending recess in the body adapted to releasably receivethe handset in a cradled rest position in which the handset isaccessible from in front of the mounting panel 1′; and

a cable reel mounted to or in the body and carrying a retractablyextendible cable, the cable being connectable by a first end to thehandset, such that in use removal of the handset from its cradled restposition extends the cable from the cable reel, the cable reel beingbiased for retraction of the cable,

characterised in that the cable reel is mounted laterally of the recessand rearwardly of the locating shoulder whereby, the cradle body may beinstalled in the aperture from in front of the mounting panel and whenthe cradle is installed, the cable reel is located behind the panel andlaterally of the panel aperture; the rotational axis of the cable reellying in a plane extending substantially longitudinally of the cradleand substantially parallel to the depth of the recess.

Further preferred features of the invention are apparent from thedependent claims and the following description made with reference tothe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general schematic arrangement in plan and side elevation ofa conventional chair arm mounted cradle and handset;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional chair armmounted cradle and handset showing arm mounting of the cable reel;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional chair armmounted cradle and handset showing chair mounting of the cable reel;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a cradle embodying theinvention in its first aspect.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of cradle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a winding mechanism such as may form apart of the invention in its second aspect;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of theinventive winding mechanism;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respective side and plan views of a toggle link shownin FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respective plan and side views of a brake cam shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a latch shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the assembled reel braking and releasemechanism of FIG. 7, showing the brake engaged, as seen from within thehandset receiving recess and with other parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13 but shows the brake disengaged;

FIGS. 15 and 17-19 show a second embodiment of the winding mechanism;with FIG. 16 showing a modification to a brake shoe shown in FIGS. 15and 17;

FIGS. 20-23 show a third embodiment of the winding mechanism;

FIGS. 24-26 show a fourth embodiment of the winding mechanism;

FIG. 27 shows a fifth embodiment of the winding mechanism;

FIGS. 28-31 show a sixth embodiment of the winding mechanism; and

FIGS. 32 and 33 show an embodiment of the third aspect of the invention.

In FIG. 1 handset 1 is securable in cradle 2. The handset 1 is connectedto a cable 3 which extends to cable reel 4. The cable passes out ofcradle 2 via an aperture (not shown) and for a large part of its lengthis shielded by a reinforced flexible conduit 5 as is well known. One endof the conduit 5 is secured adjacent the cable reel 4 and the other endis secured by a clip 6 which allows free passage of the cable 3 butholds the conduit 5. The clip 6 is secured close to the cradle 2.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the path of the conduit 5 from the cable reel 4 tothe cradle 2 and it can be seen that in FIG. 3 the passage from cablereel 4 to the cradle 2 is not a straight line and kinks in the pathwaycan lead to friction between the conduit 5 and the cable 3. To fit acradle as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 requires the installer to separatelysecure the cable reel 4 and cradle 2, to lead the cable 3 in its conduit5 to the required position, to secure the conduit 5 to the clip 6, tosecure the clip 6 either to the chair arm or the cradle 2, and toconnect the cable 3 to the handset 1.

FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the cradle of the invention. Handset1 is securable in cradle 7 which comprises a recess 8; the catch used tosecure the handset in the cradle being of a non-visible type. Thehandset 1 is connected to a cable 3 which extends via an aperture (notshown) to integral cable reel or spool 9 housed in cradle 7. Theintegral cable reel 9 may be of any conventional type but convenientlymay be of the known ratchet type such as, for example, supplied by MBMTechnology Limited under part number ACEEC 1106-A. Cable 10 extends fromthe integral cable reel 9 to a connector 11.

The cradle 7 may be mounted in a chair arm 12 (shown as broken lines)and connector 11 simply joined to a connector to external apparatus.This is a drastically simpler procedure than fitting the prior art chairarm cradles of FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 5 shows handset 1 securable in cradle 13 which comprises a recess 8. The handset 1 is connected by a fitting 14 to a cable 3 which extendsthrough aperture 15 to an integral cable reel 16 (shown schematically inbroken lines) housed in cradle 13.

The integral cable reel is of a manual pull, spring biased return, pushbutton release type and may be, for example, such as disclosed in GB-A2210020, or as described below. Push button 17 on the surface of cradle13 may be used to release a ratchet or cam operating on cable reel 16 soallowing spring bias to retract the cable. It will be clear to theperson skilled in the art that many types of manually released cablereels may be used and this invention is not limited to ratchetmechanisms nor to push button release. Slide buttons, toggle switchesand other releases may be used to release the cable for return to thecable reel.

The cable reels in FIGS. 4 and 5 are shown lying generally horizontallybut this is not essential, the position of the reel being chosen to suitthe dimensions available for the cradle. For narrow but deep chair armsvertical mounting of the reel may be more appropriate.

By choice of a suitably compact reel (such as the MBM Technology Limitedreel part number ACEEC1106-A mentioned above) it is possible to mounttwo cradles back to back and in the side of an aircraft chair arm toallow two passengers to use the handsets simultaneously. Typicaldimensions of the cradle of FIG. 5 are length A about 27.5 cm, width Babout 6.5 cm and depth C about 3.5 cm. It can be seen that in a typicalaircraft chair arm of width about 7.5 cm one cradle may be mounted onthe top; alternatively two cradles may be mounted in the opposed sidesof another form of aircraft chair arm which is typically 5.0 cm wide and7.5 cm deep. The disclosed cradle may readily fit partly recessed withina space 28.5×7.5×7.5 cm, preferably 28.5×7.5×2.5 cm and is thereforeadapted for location in chair arms. The integrated cable reel greatlysimplifies installation and servicing.

Cable 10 extends from the integral cable reel to a connector 11.

When in its rest position, cradled in the recess 8, the cable fitting 14nests inside aperture 15 so that the cable 3 is concealed from view, andinadvertent snagging, by the handset 1. To avoid inadvertent release ofthe handset a catch 18 is provided. Any form of catch may be used suchas, for example: a spring arm that engages with the handset on thehandset's return to its cradled rest position and is displaceablemanually to release the catch; a magnetic catch releasable simply ontugging the handset; a spring loaded ball catch engaging with anindentation on the handset. Other means of releasing the catch may beused, for example coin or card released catches may be used for paidsystems. It will be clear that many variants are possible to meet thepurpose of the catch, namely to releasably secure the handset in itscradled rest position.

In use the handset of FIGS. 4 and 5 sits in the recess 8 and isremovable therefrom by lifting substantially along a single removal axis(i.e. a roughly vertical axis), removal of the handset obliquely to saidsingle removal axis being restrained by the walls of the recess. Thisreduces the risk of accidentally removing the handset from its cradledrest position. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art thatthat any form of walls will suffice and they need not be continuous. Forexample side panels 19 (shown in broken lines on FIG. 4) could beremoved leaving a shoe at either end of the recess restraining thehandset from lateral movement. Other constructions such as upstandingpins will perform the same service.

In FIG. 4 the cradle is shown recessed into the arm of a chair. It willbe apparent that full recessing or partial recessing are options thatcan be followed with the present invention as required.

FIG. 6 shows a cable spool 16 and a braking/release mechanism similar tothose used in the cradle of FIG. 5. As shown the release means comprisea pushbutton 17 which has a cam surface 20 which acts on a protruberance22 of braking means formed by cam 24 which in turn is pivotally mountedon an axle (not shown) passing through a hole 26. Spool 16 rotatesclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 6) when cable is withdrawn. The brakingface 28 of cam 24 is lightly biased into contact with the spool 16 andincreases in radius about the hole 26 in an anticlockwise direction. Thespool is biased by a spiral spring (not shown) to rotate anticlockwiseand rewind the cable. Normally, however, such rewinding will be arrestedby the cam 24, which is pulled clockwise into tight frictionalengagement with the spool 16. Pushing down on button 17 as indicated byarrow 30 causes cam surface 20 to act on protruberance 22, rotating thecam 24 anticlockwise out of engagement with the spool 16, permitting thecable to rewind under the action of the rewind bias. The button 17 isbiased upwardly as indicated at 32, allowing the cam 24 to return intocontact with the spool 16 when the button 17 is released. If the cableis then extended, the spool 16 is rotated clockwise and the braking face28 of the cam 24 slips on the rim of the spool with which it makescontact. It is a feature of the second aspect of the invention thatlatch means (not shown in FIG. 6) are provided which can hold therelease means operated, for rotation of the spool 16 in the rewinddirection.

In FIG. 7 a spool 16 is housed in a cradle 13 with a spiral spring 34providing rewind bias. Pushbutton release means 36 are received in ahole 35 in cradle 13. A shaft 38 of button 36 is slidably received in ahole 40 formed in a mounting block 41 screwed to the floor of the cradle13. A compression spring 45 surrounding the shaft 38 is received betweenthe mounting block 41 and a shoulder 43A on the button. A toggle link 42(see also FIGS. 8 and 9) has a shaft 44 journalled in a hole 46 in block41. A braking cam 48 (see also FIGS. 10 and 11) has a shaft 50journalled in a hole 52 in block 41. A pin 43 of toggle link 42 isrotatably and slidably received in a slot 47 formed in cam 48. A torsionspring 49 has one arm braced in a hole (not shown) in the mounting block41 and another arm held by a tang 51 on the cam 48 to bias it clockwiseand bring a braking surface 53 into contact with a rim 55 of the spool16. The radius of surface 53 increases in an anti- clockwise directionabout shaft 44 as shown in FIG. 10. Cable (not shown) is drawn from andrewound onto the right hand side of the spool 16, as indicated by arrow37. The cable passes through a smooth edged guide eye 39 in block 41,into the recess in the cradle body in which the handset is received. Thecam braking surface 53 slides on the rim 55 to allow extension of thecable, but is wedged against rim 55 to prevent spring 34 from rewindingthe cable. Latch means 54 (see also FIG. 12) comprising a lever 57, afinger 59 and a trigger 60 have a shaft 56 journalled in a hole 58 inthe mounting block 41. Finger 59 extends into an aperture 62 in block 41that communicates with button shaft hole 40. Lever 57, finger 59 andtrigger 60 are biased outwardly towards the handset recess by a torsionspring 64 mounted on shaft 56 with one end braced in a groove (notshown) in the lower face of block 41 and another end received in a hole66A in lever 57.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the button 36 is in its normal raisedposition, spring 64 holds the finger 59 against the rear of the lowerend of button shaft 38 in the aperture 62. Depressing the button 36 asin FIG. 14 causes the finger 59 to enter a detent groove 66 formed inthe button shaft 38, latching the button depressed. As the button 36 ismoved downward towards its latched state, a depending foot 68 providedon a button lug 70 engages a cam surface 69 on the toggle link 42,rotating the toggle link clockwise as shown in FIG. 7. Lugs 70,72 slidein grooves (not shown) provided in the cradle 13 to prevent the button36 from rotating about its shaft 38. The toggle pin 43 rotates the cam48 anti-clockwise to bring its braking surface 53 out of contact withthe spool rim 55, allowing spring 34 to rewind the cable. As the handset(not shown) is replaced in the cradle 13, it presses against the trigger60, disengaging the finger 59 from the detent groove 66, allowing thebutton 36 to pop up, releasing the cam 48 for contact between brakingsurface 53 and spool rim 55.

An alternative construction for the brake means is shown in FIGS. 15-19.A first brake shoe 74 is carried by a slide plate 76. A second brakeshoe 78 is carried by a body 80 slidable on plate 76, guided bydepending flanges received in cutouts 84 in the plate 76. The shoes,plate 76 and body 80 slide in slots 86,88 in a stationary spool baseplate 90. The shoe 74 and slide plate 76 are biased outwardly of thebase plate 90 by a spring 92. Similarly body 80 and shoe 78 are biasedoutwardly by a spring 94. The slide plate 76 and body 80 includerespective overlapping apertures 96,98 shown in section in FIG. 18. Theshaft of a button 100 passes through the apertures 96.98 and includescamming surfaces 102,104 which urge the slide plate 76 and body 80 inopposite directions when the button 100 is pressed, moving the shoes74,78 inwardly. In their outward position, the shoes 74, 78 are urgedagainst an inner rim 106 of a cable spool 16 (FIG. 19). The button 100may be urged upwardly by a spring 108. Latch means such as describedelsewhere in this specification are used to hold the button 100depressed.

FIG. 16 shows an alternative, self-tightening brake shoe construction.The shoe includes a pair of cut outs defining a flexible finger 75offset from the diameter of the base plate 90 and protruding slightlyfrom the remainder of the shoe so that it flexes and slips with respectto the spool rim 106 as the spool is rotated in the one direction, butwedges against the rim 106 as the spool rotates in the rewind direction.

FIGS. 20-23 show another brake means construction. A rotatable baseplate 110 is carried by a shaft 112 of spool 16. A pair of brake shoes114,116 slide in diametrically opposed guide slots 118,120 in plate 110.The shoes 114,116 have pins 122 which engage in sort spiral slots 124 ina fixed base plate 126. Plate 110 has a radially projecting tab 128shown in section in FIG. 21. A button 130 has a shaft passing through ahole 132 in tab 128, with a camming surface 134 which urges the plate110 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from below, when the button ispressed. Return springs 136, 138 are provided; spring 136 urging theplate 110 anticlockwise so that the shoes move outwardly in slots118,120 and 124 to engage the inner rim 106 of the spool 16. Buttonlatching means (not shown) are again provided.

FIGS. 24-26 show yet another brake means construction. A pair of arms141 are mounted on a rotatable base plate 140 by pivots 142. A fixedbase plate 144 has a pair of pins 146 engaged in respective cam slots148 formed in the arms 141. Anticlockwise rotation of the plate 140(viewed from above) swings the arms 141 radially outwardly to bringlobes 150 at the tips of the arms into contact with the spool inner rim106. A projecting tab 128 with a hole 132 is again provided, but thistime a cam surface 152 of a button 154 is arranged to rotate the plateanticlockwise as the button is depressed (FIG. 25).

FIG. 27 shows further alternative brake means. Spool 16 comprises a hub156 engaged with a lazy thread 158 on shaft 160 which in turn isrotatably mounted in the cradle and acted upon by a rewind bias spring(not shown). An end face of the spool 16 is lightly biased into contactwith braking ribs 162 formed on the cradle. The rewind bias acts on theshaft in the clockwise direction as viewed from below and, due to thethreads 158, causes the spool to migrate along the shaft 160 into firmcontact with the ribs 162. Rewind motion of the spool is therebyarrested. On the other hand, pulling on the cable applies a countertorque which tends to disengage the spool from the ribs 162, allowingextension of the cable. A button 164 is provided which when pressed actsto displace the spool away form the ribs 162, allowing the cable torewind. Button latching means (not shown) are again provided.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 28-31, the spool 16 has ratchet teeth 166 onone end face engageable with a pawl 168 mounted on a shaft 170. Theshaft 170 also carries a pinion gear 172 in engagement with teeth 174moulded into the spool 16. A face of the pinion gear 172 is infrictional engagement with the pawl 168. Extension of the cable rotatesthe spool 16 anticlockwise and the pinion gear 172 clockwise. This,together with conventional camming action between the pawl 168 andratchet teeth 166, rotates the pawl out of engagement with the ratchetteeth 166 (FIG. 28). Further extension of the cable causes the piniongear 172 to slip relative to the pawl 168. When the cable is released,the rewind bias spring (not shown) rotates the spool 16 clockwise ashort distance, rotating pinion wheel 172 anticlockwise, bringing thepawl 168 into locking engagement with the ratchet teeth 166. In this waythe cable is locked in the extended position (FIG. 29). As shownparticularly in FIGS. 30 and 31, the pawl comprises a lever arm 176co-operable with a release button 178. Depressing the button 178 againsta return spring 180 causes a shoulder 182 on the button to move arm 176and pawl 168 clockwise (FIG. 30), so releasing the pawl from the teeth166 for rewinding of the cable. The button 178 comprises a groove 184engaged by the arm 176 forming a detent of latching means which hold thebutton down against spring 180 until the cable is extended again,whereupon the arm 176 is rotated by pinion gear 172 out of engagementwith the groove184, allowing the button 178 to pop up.

FIGS. 32 and 33 show an embodiment of the invention in its third aspect.The illustrated handset cradle comprises a body 200 having a panelmounting lip 202 providing a locating shoulder 204 for positioning thecradle at the desired depth in an aperture formed in a panel 206. Ahandset (not shown) is stowed in a recess 207 accessible from in frontof the panel 206. A cord reel 208 is positioned laterally of the recess207, below the shoulder 204, so that it is covered by the panel 206. Theaperture in the panel 206 is therefore of the same size as would berequired for an equivalent cradle having a remotely located cradle reel.On installation, the reel 208 is first fed through the panel apertureand the shoulder 204 then brought into its final position, abutting thepanel aperture edges.

It will be readily understood that any of the various release means,brake means and latch means described above may be appropriatelycombined to form a winding mechanism in accordance with the secondaspect of the invention. Indeed, the various means described are merelyillustrative and other arrangements fulfilling the functions defined inthe claims can be envisaged. Instead of being released by pulling on thecable or replacing the handset in the cradle, the latch means maycomprise a hand actuated release control such as a pushbutton, lever,slide, knob or switch.

What is claimed is:
 1. A winding mechanism comprising a spool rotatablein one direction against a rewind bias torque; brake means having: (i)an operative condition in which rotation of the spool in the rewinddirection is braked but rotation of the spool in said one direction isallowed, and (ii) a released condition in which rotation of the spool inthe rewind direction is allowed; release means actuable to change thebrake means from the operative to the released condition, and latchmeans engageable with the release means for holding the release means inthe actuated state whereby the brake means are maintained in thereleased condition; in which the mechanism forms part of an apparatuscomprising a handset and a cradle having a recess in which the handsetmay be placed, the latch means comprising a trigger arranged in therecess and actuated by placement of the handset into the recess todisengage the latch means from the release means thereby allowing thebrake means to change from the released to the operative condition.
 2. Awinding mechanism comprising a spool rotatable in one direction againsta rewind bias torque; brake means having: (i) an operative condition inwhich rotation of the spool in the rewind direction is braked butrotation of the spool in said one direction is allowed, and (ii) areleased condition in which rotation of the spool in the rewinddirection is allowed; release means actuable to change the brake meansfrom the operative to the released condition, and latch means engageablewith the release means for holding the release means in the actuatedstate whereby the brake means are held in the released condition, inwhich rotation of the spool in the one direction biases the latch meansout of engagement with the release means.
 3. A winding mechanism asdefined in claim 2 in which the latch means comprise a pinion wheelrotatably engaged with the spool and a detent rotatable into engagementwith the release means by the spool via the pinion wheel and a frictionslip connection.
 4. A winding mechanism as defined in claim 1 in whichthe brake means comprise a ratchet and pawl.
 5. A winding mechanism asdefined in claim 1 in which the brake means comprise a shoe movablerelative to the spool which, when brought into contact with the spool iscammed into tighter engagement with the spool to arrest rotation in therewind direction but which slips relative to the spool to allow rotationof the spool in said one direction.
 6. A winding mechanism according toclaim 5 in which the shoe is pivoted into contact with the spool by atoggle linkage engaged by a camming surface provided on the releasemeans.
 7. A winding, mechanism according to claim 5 in which the shoeengages an inner rim of the spool.
 8. A winding mechanism according toclaim 7 in which the shoe is mounted to a carrier biased to bring theshoe into engagement with the inner rim and the carrier is selectivelytranslatable by a camming surface on the release means to disengage theshoe from the inner rim.
 9. A winding mechanism according to claim 7further comprising a member rotatable by the release means againstresilient bias, there being a connection between the member and the shoefor disengaging the shoe from the inner rim upon rotation of the member.10. A winding, mechanism according to claim 1 in which the spool ismounted on a rotatable shaft by a lazy thread and the rewind bias torqueis applied to the shaft to axially shift the spool and bring an endsurface thereof into frictional engagement with an adjacent fixedsurface; a counter torque applied to the spool disengaging the endsurface from the fixed surface; the release means acting to axiallyshift the spool to disengage the end surface from the fixed surface. 11.A winding mechanism according to claim 1 in which the brake means arebiased towards the engaged condition.
 12. A winding mechanism accordingto claim 1 in which the release means are biased towards the inoperativecondition.